Stack mold support structure for an injection molding machine

ABSTRACT

An injection molding machine includes a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a first mold section, and a moving platen for holding a second mold section. The moving platen is slidably supported on a platen slide surface fixed to the base and moveable along a machine axis between a mold closed position, in which the moving platen is drawn towards the stationary platen, and a maximum daylight position, in which the moveable platen is spaced axially apart from the stationary platen by a platen opening. The machine further includes a carriage support structure slidably supporting a stack mold carriage for holding a mold center section. The stack mold carriage is translatable parallel to the machine axis between a carriage advanced position and a carriage retracted position spaced axially apart from the carriage advanced position by a carriage stroke length. The carriage support structure includes a pair of beams removably fixed relative to the base, the beams extending parallel to the machine axis and spaced apart from each other by a lateral spacing, each beam having a beam length that is less than the platen opening and greater than the carriage stroke length.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to injection molding machines having a stack moldfeature, and to apparatuses and methods for movably supporting a stackmold in an injection molding machine.

INTRODUCTION

The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is priorart or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in theart.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,251 (Payette et al) discloses a support for rotatingmolds used in multi-shot injection molding provides for platen mountingof a support track that may extend beneath the molds to support therotating mold portion. The patent contends that the extensible trackprovides a telescoping configuration that allows a long support spanindependent of the mold width improving mold stability and increasingpotential mold separation for easy access to the mold portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,381 (Wohlrab) discloses a rotary device for ahorizontal injection molding machine that is configured in the form of amodule frame which includes a base plate and a turntable rotatablymounted on the base plate. Drives are provided to move the base plate inlongitudinal direction and to rotate the turntable. A fixed moldmounting plate of the injection molding machine can be mounted on amounting structure of the module frame, whereas a moveable mold mountingplate is received in guides along the sides of the module frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,448 (Lichtinger) discloses a rotary device (4) for ahorizontal injection molding machine for rotating mold portions ormolded articles, disposed between the mold mounting plates, about avertical axis. The rotary device (40) is supported completely separatedfrom the tie bars (5-8) exclusively on the machine bed (2). The rotarydevice (4) includes a base plate 914) supported on the machine bed, arotary table (13) supported on the base plate for rotation about avertical axis, as well as drive means for turning the rotary table. Thebase plate (14) has a substantially H-shaped configuration, with thelateral legs (15-18) of the H resting on the machine bed (2). Turning isrealized by gear (44) driven by an electric motor or hydraulic motor(49) and meshing in a ring gear (43) on the rotary table (13). Therotary table (13) is mounted on a pivot pin (19) which extends throughthe base plate (14) and is rotatably supported in addition by a stator(2) arranged below the base plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,469,693 (Schad) discloses an injection molding machinethat can include a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base forholding a first mold section and a moving platen for holding a secondmold section. The moving platen can be slidably supported on a platenslide surface fixed to the base. The injection molding machine can alsoinclude a stack mold carriage for holding a mold center section. Anactuator can be coupled to the stack mold carriage for translating thestack mold carriage along the machine axis towards and away from thestationary platen, the actuator comprising a driven member coupled to acarriage connection portion. The carriage connection portion cantransfer motion from the driven member to translation of the stack moldcarriage. The carriage connection portion can be joined to the stackmold carriage at an elevation below the platen slide surface.

SUMMARY

The following summary is provided to introduce the reader to the moredetailed discussion to follow. The summary is not intended to limit ordefine the claims.

According to one aspect, an injection molding machine, comprises a base,a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a first mold section,and a moving platen for holding a second mold section. The moving platenis slidably supported on a platen slide surface fixed to the base andmoveable along a machine axis between a mold closed position, in whichthe moving platen is drawn towards the stationary platen, and a maximumdaylight position, in which the moveable platen is spaced axially apartfrom the stationary platen by a platen opening. A carriage supportstructure slidably supports a stack mold carriage for holding a moldcenter section. The stack mold carriage is translatable parallel to themachine axis between a carriage advanced position and a carriageretracted position spaced axially apart from the carriage advancedposition by a carriage stroke length. The carriage support structureincludes a pair of beams removably fixed relative to the base. The beamsextend parallel to the machine axis and are spaced apart from each otherby a lateral spacing. Each beam has a beam length that is less than theplaten opening and greater than the carriage stroke length.

In some examples, each beam may be of integral, one-piece construction.Each beam may have a first end fixed to the stationary platen, and asecond end fixed relative to the base.

In some examples, the first end of each beam may be mounted to anunderside surface of the stationary platen. Each beam may have a secondend releasably secured to the base.

In some examples, the injection machine may further comprise at leasttwo tie bars, each tie bar extending parallel to the machine axisbetween the stationary and moving platens for axially clamping togetherthe first and second mold sections during an injection cycle, whereineach beam is spaced laterally inboard of the lower tie bars.

In some examples, the carriage support structure may have a structurewidth generally defined by the lateral distance between laterally outersurfaces of the first and second beams. The structure width may be lessthan a lateral tie bar spacing between the two tie bars.

In some examples, the carriage may be removably coupled to the beams.

In some examples, the injection machine may further comprise a firstlinear rail mounted to the first beam, and a second linear rail mountedto the second beam. The carriage may include at least one first bearingshoe engaged with the first rail and releaseably secured to thecarriage, and at least one second bearing shoe engaged with the secondrail and releaseably secured to the carriage.

In some examples, the beams may have laterally inner surfaces directedtowards each other and spaced laterally apart by a beam opening. Thestack mold carriage may have an axial extent that is less than the beamopening and may be removable from the machine by rotating and loweringthe stack mold carriage through the beam opening.

In some examples, the carriage support structure may be free oftransverse structural members connecting together the first and secondbeams.

In some example, the injection machine may further comprise a platenactuator for translating the moving platen towards and away from thestationary platen. The platen actuator may include a propeller that ispivotably connected to the carriage at a vertical pivot axis, thepropeller positioned at an elevation below the lower surface of thebeams.

In some examples, the actuator may further include one link connectingone end of the propeller to the moving platen, and another linkconnecting an opposed end of the propeller to the stationary platen,each link disposed at generally the same elevation as, and outboard of,an outboard surfaces of a respective beam.

In some examples, the injection machine may further comprise a fluidmanifold with at least one inlet port connectable by a flexible inletconduit to a source of fluid and at least one delivery port, themanifold releasably mountable in a deployed position wherein fluidcommunication between the inlet port and the mold center section isprovided via an outlet conduit attached to the outlet port, and a stowedposition wherein the flexible inlet conduit remains connected to the atleast one inlet port, and the outlet port is in fluid isolation from themold center section.

In some examples, when in the deployed position the manifold may bereleasably secured to the carriage by a carriage-manifold mountingstructure.

In some examples, when in the stowed position, the manifold may bereleasably secured to the base of the machine by a machine base-manifoldmounting structure.

In some examples, the carriage may be slidable to a manifold transferposition. The manifold may have a common axial position in both thedeployed and stowed positions, and the carriage-manifold mountingstructure and the machine base-manifold mounting structure are bothaligned with the manifold.

According to another aspect, a method of temporarily removing a stackmold carriage from an injection molding machine includes a) translatingthe carriage along a carriage support structure to a manifold transferposition in which a manifold secured to the carriage is aligned withsecuring means for securing the manifold to a base of the machine; andb) releasing the manifold from the carriage and engaging the securingmeans to secure the manifold to the base of the machine.

In some examples, after step b) the carriage may be released from thecarriage slide surface and lowered between a pair of beams of thesupport structure.

In some examples, after step b) the support structure may be releasedfrom the base and raised between axially spaced apart platens andlaterally spaced apart tie bars of the machine.

Other aspects and features of the present specification will becomeapparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of thefollowing description of specific examples of the teaching disclosedherein.

DRAWINGS

Reference is made in the detailed description to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an injection molding machine with themoving platen spaced away from the stationary platen;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the machine in a mold-closedcondition;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a clamp portion of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the machineof FIG. 1 showing portions of a carriage support structure;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 3, taken alongthe lines 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the carriage supportstructure of the machine of FIG. 1 adjacent the moving platen;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the carriage supportstructure of the machine of FIG. 1 adjacent the stationary platen;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine of FIG. 1,looking between the platens from the operator side;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure shown inFIG. 8, taken along the lines 9-9;

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9, but showing the manifold in the stowedposition and the carriage partially lifted away from the machine;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10, but showing the beam being lifted awayfrom the machine with the carriage; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine of FIG. 1,showing the carriage in the manifold-transfer position, and a portion ofthe base and an upper portion of the manifold in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide anexample of an embodiment of each claimed invention. No embodimentdescribed below limits any claimed invention and any claimed inventionmay cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those describedbelow. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses orprocesses having all of the features of any one apparatus or processdescribed below or to features common to multiple or all of theapparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or processdescribed below is not an embodiment of any exclusive right granted byissuance of this patent application. Any invention disclosed in anapparatus or process described below and for which an exclusive right isnot granted by issuance of this patent application may be the subjectmatter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuingpatent application, and the applicants, inventors or owners do notintend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such inventionby its disclosure in this document.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an injection molding machine 100 includes abase 102, a stationary platen 104 fixed to the base 102 for holding afirst mold section 108 a, and a moving platen 106 for holding a secondmold section 108 b. The moving platen 106 is slidably supported on aplaten slide surface 110 fixed to the base 102, and is moveable towardsand away from the stationary platen 104 along a machine axis 112. Themoving platen is generally moveable along the platen slide surface 110between a mold-closed position (FIG. 2), wherein the moving platen ispositioned nearest the stationary platen, and a maximum daylightposition (FIG. 1), wherein the moving platen is spaced apart from thestationary platen by a platen opening 114.

The platen slide surface 110 may comprise a pair of platen rails 134positioned on laterally opposed sides of the base 102 and extendingparallel to the machine axis 112. In the example illustrated, the movingplaten 106 includes platen bearing shoes 136 (FIG. 2) fixed to themoving platen 106 and slidably engaged with the platen rails 134.

The machine 100 may further include a plurality of tie bars 126extending parallel to the machine axis 112 and between the stationaryand moving platens 104, 106, for axially clamping together the moldsections 108 during an injection cycle. In the example illustrated, themachine 100 includes a front lower tie bar 126 a and a rear lower tiebar 126 b spaced transversely apart (by a lateral tie bar spacing128—FIG. 3) along opposing sides of the machine 100. The front lower tiebar 126 a is, in the example illustrated, disposed towards an operatorside 130 of the machine 100, and the rear lower tie bar 126 b isdisposed towards a non-operator side 132 of the machine 100 with themachine axis 112 positioned laterally intermediate the front and rearlower tie bars 126 a, 126 b. The machine 100 may further include a frontupper tie bar 126 c spaced vertically above the front lower tie bar 126a, and a rear upper tie bar 126 d spaced vertically above the rear lowertie bar 126 b.

In the example illustrated, the machine 100 further includes a moldcenter section 108 c positioned axially intermediate the first andsecond mold sections 108 a, 108 b. An injection unit 116 is supported onthe base 102 and injects resin (or another injection compound) into moldcavities formed by the mold sections 108 when the mold is closed.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the machine 100 further includes acarriage support structure 140 slidably supporting a stack mold carriage142 for holding the mold center section 108 c. The stack mold carriage142 is translatable parallel to the machine axis 112 between a carriageadvanced position generally corresponding to the mold-closed position(FIG. 2) and a carriage retracted position generally corresponding to amold-open position (FIG. 1). The carriage retracted position is spacedaxially apart from the carriage advanced position by a carriage strokelength 144.

With further reference to FIG. 4, the carriage support structure 140includes a pair of beams 148 removably fixed relative to the base. Thebeams 148 extend parallel to the machine axis 112 and are spaced apartfrom each other laterally. The pair of beams 148 includes a first beam148 a disposed towards the operator side 130 of the machine 100, and asecond beam 148 b disposed towards the non-operator side 132 of themachine 100.

Each beam 148 a, 148 b is positioned laterally inboard of the respectivelower tie bar 126 a, 126 b. Each beam 148 a, 148 b has a beam length 150that extends axially between opposite ends 152, 154 of each beam 148(FIG. 5). The beam length 150 of each beam 148 a, 148 b is, in theexample illustrated, less than the platen opening 114 and greater thanthe carriage stroke length 144. Each beam 148 can be of integral, onepiece construction. In the example illustrated, each beam 148 is aunitary length of steel having a generally rectangular cross-sectionalprofile.

The first end 152 of each beam 148 can be releasably secured to thestationary platen 104. In the example illustrated, first end bolts 156secure the first end 152 of the beam 148 to an underside surface of thestationary platen 104. The second end 154 of each beam 148 can bereleaseably secured to the base 102 of the machine 100. In the exampleillustrated, second end bolts 158 secure the second end of each beam toan upwardly directed step surface 160 of the base.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the carriage support structure 140 has astructure width 162 generally defined by the lateral distance betweenlaterally outboard surfaces 164 a, 164 b of the first and second beams148 a, 148 b. The structure width 162 is, in the example illustrated,less than the lateral tie bar spacing 128. This can facilitate removingthe carriage 142 with the beams 148 by lifting them up together betweenthe tie bars 126. In the example illustrated, the carriage supportstructure 140 is free of transverse structural members connectingtogether the first and second beams 148 a, 148 b. In some examples, suchtransverse structural members may be provided, for example, at either orboth ends of the beams.

The beams 148 have laterally inboard surfaces 166 directed towards eachother that are spaced laterally apart to define a beam opening 168. Thestack mold carriage 142 has an axial extent 169 that is less than thebeam opening. This can facilitate a manner for removing the carriage 142by rotating the carriage (by about 90 degrees) and lowering the carriagebetween the beam opening 168.

Referring still to FIG. 4, an actuator 170 is coupled to the stack moldcarriage 142 for translating the stack mold carriage 142 along themachine axis 112 towards and away from the stationary platen 104. In theexample illustrated, the actuator 170 includes a propeller 172 that ispivotably connected to the carriage 142 at a vertical pivot axis 174.The actuator 170 further includes one link 176 connecting one end of thepropeller 172 to the moving platen 106, and another link (not shown)connecting an opposed end of the propeller 172 to the stationary platen104. In the example illustrated, the propeller 172 is positioned at anelevation just below the lower surface of the beams 148. Each link 186is disposed at the generally same elevation as, and outboard of, theoutboard surfaces 164 of a respective beam.

The beams 148 can support a pair of stack mold carriage rails 180 alongwhich the stack mold carriage 142 is slidable. In the exampleillustrated, a first rail 180 a is mounted to the first beam 148 a, anda second rail 180 b is mounted to the second beam 148 b. The stack moldcarriage 142 is, in the example illustrated, provided with carriageshoes 182 slidably engaged with the carriage rails 180. In the exampleillustrated, the stack mold carriage rails 180 are separate from, andpositioned laterally inboard of, the platen rails 134. The carriagerails 180 are also, in the example illustrated, positioned at anelevation below that of the platen rails 134.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 12, the machine 100 further includes anoptional fluid manifold 186 for providing at least one fluid to the moldcenter section 108 c. The manifold 186 has at least one inlet port 188connectable by a flexible inlet conduit 190 to a source of fluid, and atleast one delivery port 192 connectable to the mold center section 108 cby a delivery conduit. A return conduit can be connected to at least onereturn port 194 of the manifold 186 for returning the fluid from themold center section 108 c to the manifold 186, and a flexible outletconduit 196 connected to an outlet port 198 of the manifold 186 canfurther return the fluid from the manifold 186 back toward the source offluid.

In the example illustrated, the manifold 186 has: one inlet port 198 forreceiving a mold coolant fluid (such as water); two delivery ports 192a, 192 b for delivering the coolant fluid to opposite sides of the moldcenter section 108 c; two return ports 194 a, 194 b for receiving thecoolant fluid back from the mold center section 108 c; and one outletport 198 for directing the coolant fluid back toward the fluid source.

The manifold 186 is releasably mountable in a deployed position (FIGS. 8and 9) wherein fluid communication between the inlet port 188 and themold center section 108 c is provided via delivery conduits attached tothe delivery ports 192, and a stowed position (FIGS. 10 and 11) whereinthe flexible inlet conduit 190 can remain connected to the at least oneinlet port 188, and the delivery ports 192 are in fluid isolation fromthe mold center section 108 c.

When in the deployed position, the manifold is releasably secured to thecarriage 142 by a carriage-manifold mounting structure 202 (see FIGS. 8and 12). In the example illustrated, the carriage-manifold mountingstructure 202 comprises a bracket 204 having one arm 204 a secured byfasteners 206 to an upper surface of the carriage 142, and another arm204 b secured by fasteners 208 to an inner surface 186 a of the manifold186.

When in the stowed position, the manifold is releasably secured to thebase of the machine by a machine base-manifold mounting structure 210(FIG. 10). In the example illustrated, the machine base-manifoldmounting structure 210 comprises a pair of fasteners 212 that passthrough apertures 214 in a sidewall of the base 102, and engage threadedbores 216 in an outer surface 186 b of the manifold 186.

To facilitate moving the manifold between the deployed and stowedpositions, the carriage 142 is optionally slidable along its axis oftravel to a manifold transfer position (FIG. 12). When the carriage isin the transfer position, the manifold has a common axial position inboth the deployed and stowed positions, and the carriage-manifoldmounting structure 202 and the machine base-manifold mounting structure210 are both aligned with the manifold 186. In the example illustrated,when the manifold 186 is in the deployed position and the carriage 142is in the transfer position, the outer surface 186 b of the manifold 186is spaced laterally apart from a facing surface fixed to the base by agap 214 (FIG. 9). Moving the manifold to the stowed position correspondsto a lateral movement of the manifold that closes the gap 214. Thefasteners of the machine base-manifold mounting structure can, in theexample illustrated, be thread-started into the threaded bores 216 ofthe manifold 186 before the bracket 204 of the carriage-manifoldmounting structure 202 is released.

In use, a method of temporarily removing a stack mold carriage 142 froman injection molding machine can include translating the carriage 142along a carriage support structure 140 to a manifold transfer positionin which a manifold 186 secured to the carriage 142 is aligned with themachine base-manifold mounting structure for securing the manifold to abase of the machine; and then releasing the manifold from the carriageand engaging the machine base manifold mounting structure to secure themanifold 186 to the base 102 of the machine 100.

After the manifold 186 is released from the carriage 142, the carriage142 can be released from the carriage support structure 140 (e.g. bydisconnecting the carriage from the carriage bearing shoes), and can berotated 90 degrees and lowered between the pair of beams 148 of thesupport structure 140.

Additionally or alternatively, after the manifold 186 is released fromthe carriage 142, the support structure 140 can be released from thebase 102 and can then then be raised between the axially spaced apartplatens 104, 106 and laterally spaced apart tie bars 126 of the machine100.

While the above description provides examples of one or more processesor apparatuses, it will be appreciated that other processes orapparatuses may be within the scope of the accompanying claims.

1. An injection molding machine, comprising: a) a base; b) a stationaryplaten fixed to the base for holding a first mold section; c) a movingplaten for holding a second mold section, the moving platen slidablysupported on a platen slide surface fixed to the base and moveable alonga machine axis between a mold closed position, in which the movingplaten is drawn towards the stationary platen, and a maximum daylightposition, in which the moveable platen is spaced axially apart from thestationary platen by a platen opening; and d) a carriage supportstructure slidably supporting a stack mold carriage for holding a moldcenter section, the stack mold carriage translatable parallel to themachine axis between a carriage advanced position and a carriageretracted position spaced axially apart from the carriage advancedposition by a carriage stroke length, the carriage support structureincluding a pair of beams removably fixed relative to the base, thebeams extending parallel to the machine axis and spaced apart from eachother by a lateral spacing, each beam having a beam length that is lessthan the platen opening and greater than the carriage stroke length. 2.The machine of claim 1, wherein each beam is of integral, one-piececonstruction.
 3. The machine of claim 2, wherein each beam has a firstend fixed to the stationary platen, and a second end fixed relative tothe base.
 4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the first end of each beamis mounted to an underside surface of the stationary platen
 5. Themachine of claim 3, wherein each beam has a second end releasablysecured to the base.
 6. The machine of claim 1, further comprising atleast two tie bars, each tie bar extending parallel to the machine axisbetween the stationary and moving platens for axially clamping togetherthe first and second mold sections during an injection cycle, whereineach beam is spaced laterally inboard of the lower tie bars.
 7. Themachine of claim 6, wherein the carriage support structure has astructure width generally defined by the lateral distance betweenlaterally outer surfaces of the first and second beams, and wherein thestructure width is less than a lateral tie bar spacing between the twotie bars.
 8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the carriage is removablycoupled to the beams.
 9. The machine of claim 8, further comprising afirst linear rail mounted to the first beam, and a second linear railmounted to the second beam, and wherein the carriage includes at leastone first bearing shoe engaged with the first rail and releaseablysecured to the carriage, and at least one second bearing shoe engagedwith the second rail and releaseably secured to the carriage.
 10. Themachine of claim 8, wherein the beams have laterally inner surfacesdirected towards each other and spaced laterally apart by a beamopening, and wherein the stack mold carriage has an axial extent that isless than the beam opening, the stack mold carriage removable from themachine by rotating and lowering the stack mold carriage through thebeam opening.
 11. The machine of claim 1, wherein the carriage supportstructure is free of transverse structural members connecting togetherthe first and second beams.
 12. The machine of claim 1 furthercomprising a platen actuator for translating the moving platen towardsand away from the stationary platen, wherein the platen actuatorincludes a propeller that is pivotably connected to the carriage at avertical pivot axis, the propeller positioned at an elevation below thelower surface of the beams.
 13. The machine of claim 12, wherein theactuator further includes one link connecting one end of the propellerto the moving platen, and another link connecting an opposed end of thepropeller to the stationary platen, each link disposed at generally thesame elevation as, and outboard of, an outboard surfaces of a respectivebeam.
 14. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a fluid manifoldwith at least one inlet port connectable by a flexible inlet conduit toa source of fluid and at least one delivery port, the manifoldreleasably mountable in a deployed position wherein fluid communicationbetween the inlet port and the mold center section is provided via anoutlet conduit attached to the outlet port, and a stowed positionwherein the flexible inlet conduit remains connected to the at least oneinlet port, and the outlet port is in fluid isolation from the moldcenter section.
 15. The machine of claim 14, wherein when in thedeployed position the manifold is releasably secured to the carriage bya carriage-manifold mounting structure.
 16. The machine of claim 15,wherein when in the stowed position, the manifold is releasably securedto the base of the machine by a machine base-manifold mountingstructure.
 17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the carriage is slidableto a manifold transfer position, wherein the manifold has a common axialposition in both the deployed and stowed positions, and thecarriage-manifold mounting structure and the machine base-manifoldmounting structure are both aligned with the manifold.
 18. A method oftemporarily removing a stack mold carriage from an injection moldingmachine, comprising: a) translating the carriage along a carriagesupport structure to a manifold transfer position in which a manifoldsecured to the carriage is aligned with securing means for securing themanifold to a base of the machine; and b) releasing the manifold fromthe carriage and engaging the securing means to secure the manifold tothe base of the machine.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprisingafter step b), releasing the carriage from the carriage slide surface,and lowering the carriage between a pair of beams of the supportstructure.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising after step b),releasing the support structure from the base and raising the supportstructure between axially spaced apart platens and laterally spacedapart tie bars of the machine.